When human rights violations come to light, it is often through human rights defenders’ brave efforts to put their own lives at risk to help others. Human rights defenders are people who speak out against human rights violations and work to protect the rights of others. They come from all walks of life and can be found in every corner of the globe. Human rights defenders are vital in bringing attention to human rights violations and pressing for change. They help give a voice to the voiceless and shine a light in the world’s dark places. Without them, many human rights violations would go unnoticed and unaddressed.

Intro
The world is prominent; unfortunately, many countries have rampant human rights violations. This article will rank the top five countries with the worst human rights violations. These rankings are based on various factors, including freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and the treatment of minorities. If you’re interested in learning more about human rights violations worldwide, keep reading!
What Are Human Rights Violations
Human rights violations are any actions that interfere with the fundamental rights that all humans are entitled to, such as the right to life, liberty, and security of a person. Human rights violations happen all over the world, every day. Unfortunately, many human rights violations go unreported and unpunished because of the power imbalance between victims and perpetrators. This can be due to several reasons, including fear of retaliation, lack of access to justice systems, or simply not knowing where to turn for help.
Human Rights Violations Examples
Human rights violations can include anything from torture to genocide. Some examples of human rights violations include:
-The Holocaust
-The Rwandan Genocide
-The Bosnian Genocide
-Child Soldiers
-Torture
-Forced Displacement
-Political Imprisonment
-Extrajudicial Killing
North Korea
North Korea has a long history of human rights violations. The United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in North Korea found that the Kim regime had committed crimes against humanity. Those violations include extermination, murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment, rape, forced abortions, and other sexual violence, persecution of political, religious, racial, and gender grounds, and the forcible transfer of populations.
The Kim regime operates prison camps where detainees are subjected to deplorable conditions and torture. Camps have been identified where prisoners are starved to death, forced to work in dangerous situations, and subjected to systematic rape and violence. In one center known as Camp 22, it is estimated that 20-25% of inmates die yearly from malnutrition and other diseases.
The Kim regime also engages in public executions as a means of intimidation. For example, in 2015, nine people were executed by the firing squad for attempting to escape the country. North Korea also bans any unauthorized religious activity, and those caught engaging in religious activities can be subject to imprisonment or execution.
There have been reports of North Koreans being trafficked for forced labor in other countries, including China and Russia. North Korean women and girls are particularly vulnerable to trafficking for sexual exploitation. The Kim regime strictly controls information coming into and out of the country, and media is heavily censored. The government also restricts freedom of movement within the country, making it difficult for people to flee from human rights abuses.
Iran
The Iranian regime is guilty of human rights violations for a number of reasons. Firstly, it routinely jails political dissidents and journalists who speak out against the government. Secondly, it engages in torture and other forms of cruel and inhuman treatment of detainees. Lastly, it denies its citizens basic rights like freedom of speech and assembly. They even deploy their own form of morality police that terrorizes citizens
These human rights violations have been going on for many years, and show no signs of stopping. The Iranian regime must be held accountable for its actions, and the international community must take action to stop the abuses. Recently a young woman in Iran named Mahsa Amini got arrested and subsequently died in police custody sparking protests all across the country.
Syria
Syria’s human rights abuses are well documented and include unlawful killings, torture, arbitrary arrests and detention, and forced disappearances. The Syrian government has also been repeatedly accused of using chemical weapons against civilians, a war crime. In addition, the government has restricted freedom of speech, assembly, and religion and prevented humanitarian aid from reaching those in need.
Syria’s human rights abuses have been going on for many years, and the situation has only worsened since the start of the Syrian Civil War in 2011. According to Amnesty International, over 100,000 people have been killed in the conflict, and over 4 million have been displaced. The Syrian government has been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including chemical weapons, barrel bombs, and cluster munitions. In addition, government forces have been accused of torturing and executing civilians and targeting medical facilities and personnel.
The Syrian Civil War has also led to a massive humanitarian crisis, with over 13 million people needing assistance. The conflict has also created a breeding ground for terrorist groups like the Islamic State (ISIS).
The international community has condemned Syria’s human rights abuses and called for an end to the conflict. However, the Syrian government has continued to violate human rights with impunity. In December 2016, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution calling for a nationwide ceasefire in Syria. However, the Syrian government has failed to comply with the resolution, and the violence continues. The situation in Syria is dire, and human rights abuses are ongoing. The international community must continue to pressure the Syrian government to end the conflict and respect human rights.
Iraq
The human rights situation in Iraq has been dire for many years. Amnesty International has documented many human rights cases of abuse in Iraq, including extrajudicial executions, torture, and other ill-treatment, arbitrary arrests and detentions, and lack of due process. The Iraqi government has failed to hold perpetrators of human rights abuses accountable, and the security forces continue to commit serious violations with impunity. Thousands of people have been forcibly displaced due to the conflict in Iraq, and more are affected by violence.
The human rights situation in Iraq has deteriorated since the outbreak of the conflict in 2014, as all parties have committed serious violations and abuses of international humanitarian law and human rights law. Amnesty International has documented a wide range of human rights abuses by the Islamic State group (also known as ISIS), including executions, torture, other ill-treatment, sexual violence, and forced displacement.
The Iraqi government forces and affiliated militias have also been responsible for serious human rights abuses, including extrajudicial executions, torture, and other ill-treatment, arbitrary arrests and detentions, and forced displacement. The Kurdish Regional Government forces have also been accused of human rights abuses.
The security situation in Iraq remains volatile, with ongoing fighting between government forces and ISIS and ethnic and political groups. This has devastated the civilian population, with thousands of people killed and wounded and millions displaced.
The human rights situation in Iraq will likely deteriorate unless all parties to the conflict uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights law and take concrete steps to protect civilians. All those responsible for human rights abuses and violations must be held accountable to end the culture of impunity in Iraq.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan is a country that has been plagued with violence and human rights abuses for many years. The most recent example is the Taliban’s attack on an army school in Peshawar, Pakistan, which left over 130 children dead. This massacre has brought the issue of the Taliban’s human rights abuse to the forefront of international attention.
However, the Taliban are not the only party in Afghanistan responsible for human rights abuses. The Afghan government gets repeatedly criticized for its treatment of women and its use of torture against detainees. For example, in 2010, a report by the United Nations found that “torture is routinely used in Afghan prisons” and that “women [in Afghan prisons] are particularly vulnerable to sexual abuse by prison staff.”
Afghanistan’s lack of security and stability has created an environment where human rights abuses can flourish. Until the country can achieve a feeling of lasting peace, these abuses will likely continue unabated.
Saudi Arabia
Human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia are rampant and include torture, arbitrary detention, and executions. Women and LGBT people are particularly vulnerable to abuse, and the government has been known to crack down on any form of dissent.
The Saudi government has recently been widely criticized for its human rights abuses. Torture, arbitrary detention, and executions are commonplace in the country, and women and LGBT people are particularly vulnerable to abuse. The government has been known to crack down on any form of dissent, making it extremely difficult for activists to speak out against the mistreatment of Saudi citizens.
Despite the challenges, some continue to fight for human rights in Saudi Arabia. Activists like Manal al-Sharif and Waleed Abu al-Khair have risked their lives to shine a light on the abuses in their country. They represent just a tiny fraction of the brave individuals working to bring about change in Saudi Arabia, and their efforts should be celebrated.
The human rights situation in Saudi Arabia may seem daunting, but people are working to make a difference. With continued pressure from the international community, change may come to Saudi Arabia. Until then, we must stand with those brave enough to speak out against injustice and continue to call for an end to the human rights abuses in the country.
Human Rights Violations in the USA
The United States has been known to commit human rights violations. For example, the US has been known to detain people without trial, use torture, and engage in targeted killings. The US has also been known to support dictatorships and authoritarian regimes.
The United States has been widely criticized for its human rights record. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and other human rights organizations have documented numerous human rights violations by the US government. The US government has also been denounced by the UN Human Rights Council and other international bodies for its human rights record.

Conclusion
It’s no secret that some countries have a much worse track record than others regarding human rights violations. In fact, according to the United Nations Human Rights Council, these are the five worst offenders: North Korea, Syria, Eritrea, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. While many factors contribute to a country’s ranking on this list, one of the most important is the government’s treatment of its citizens.